Pack build in progress (picture heavy)

[crashdive123]

Dave - the pea in a whistle can fall out (or fail in exteme cold). When it does.....no whistle. The three that Rick listed are great. The Storm will even work under water.

[Gray Wolf]

Good point. How well do synthetics burn anyway? I know cotton works pretty good.

They don't burn, they melt.

Where did you get the Coleman Fire Lighters Allumoirs??? They're not even advertised on the Coleman site.

[crashdive123]

GW - It's Coghlan, not Coleman. I've seen em at Wally World and Sports Authority type stores.

[Gray Wolf]

Thanks crash, but even Coghlan's site doesn't show "Fire Lighters Allumoir".

[Rick]

Another problem with the pea whistles is they can freeze in the winter and they can get really sloppy when they get wet. The volume will drop way down or not whistle at all if they freeze up. Nothing worse than finding a blue corpse with a pea whistle frozen in his lips. I hate it when that happens.

[crashdive123]

Thanks crash, but even Coghlan's site doesn't show "Fire Lighters Allumoir".

Hmmmm. Wonder if they changed their packaging. Here they are without "Allumoir". http://www.coghlans.com/catalogue/pr...t.php?catID=10

[Gray Wolf]

I had seen those, but are they the same?


Dave how long ago did you buy those?

[crashdive123]

The packaging and picture on the front appear to be the same. They'll probably sell more at Wally World by taking the big words off the wrapper.

[Gray Wolf]

Or removed a chemical that made your big toe fall off.

[davef]

I had seen those, but are they the same?


Dave how long ago did you buy those?

They are the same GW. I live in Canada,
and companies here are mandated by federal law to provide
all labeling in BOTH Official languages "French and English"

I went to Coghlan's website and checked the product #
Both are listed as #150.

[davef]

Another problem with the pea whistles is they can freeze in the winter and they can get really sloppy when they get wet. The volume will drop way down or not whistle at all if they freeze up. Nothing worse than finding a blue corpse with a pea whistle frozen in his lips. I hate it when that happens.

Now that's a pretty picture

[danmc]

I'll second Ricks comment about the CD. I'd try it if that were my only option, but they are not as effective as a real signal mirror. Try it out in your yard. See about putting a spot on a house across the street with a CD vs a mirror. You'll be a believer in mirrors over CD's after that.

I carry one of those small wire saws as a matter of practice. They're really small and really light. Thats my "just in case" saw. If I'm actually planning on using a saw I use my gerber folding saw.

Someone mentioned something for hauling water. I don't use it much but I have a nylon water bag that can carry a couple of gallons. Makes really soaking a campfire easier than a 2 pint water bottle!

-Dan

[Gray Wolf]

Thanks davef, I guess I'll pick up a pack and try them.

[davef]

Thanks davef, I guess I'll pick up a pack and try them.

They are just like a pack of wooden matches. Even have their own striker on the side of the box.
Cheers
Dave

[Gray Wolf]

They are just like a pack of wooden matches.
Dave

That's it? Doesn't it have a longer burn time and a larger flame at least?

[davef]

That's it? Doesn't it have a longer burn time and a larger flame at least?

I was just saying that the packaging was similar in design to a match box.
They'd better last a lot longer than matches
I'm going to try one of them tonight.

Cheers
Dave

Followup on the Fire Lighters and Vaseline/cotton balls
The conditions:
It had just rained.
I used a rock surface to work with.
There was a bit of wind, to the point where I was concerned about it
blowing the embers away.
Embers were covered with sand and soaked with water at the end.

I used two sources for spark with the Vaseline/cotton balls.
1) My Koster Bushcraft knife w/Firesteel
2) Welding Flint lighter.
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Here is a picture of the Fire Lighters that GW was asking about.
The box comes with it's own striking surface, so I used that.
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First up was the Vaseline/cotton ball with the Welding Flint lighter as a spark source.
After a dozen strikes, I couldn't even get the cotton ball to singe.
At one point, I even had the cotton ball right in the spark bowl of the flint lighter. No success.
Next up was the Bushcraft knife / Firesteel combo.
It ignited the Vaseline/cotton ball on the very first strike.

At this point, I was interested in roughly how long the cotton ball would
burn, in comparison with the Fire Lighter, so I struck the Fire Lighter (which
ignited on the first strike), set it down by the cotton ball and waited for
them to burn out.

After about 2 minutes
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After about 4 minutes
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After about 6 minutes
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[chazlawyer]

Since I just recently put together my first pack...I loved this thread since I could compare my thinking to others...a few suggestions...

I packed about 30' of duct tape in my bag. I just re-rolled it off of a larger roll so it's packed tight without the cardboard.

I would also suggest a collapsable nalgene bottle (pic below)...this has a large capacity (96 oz.) and is great for water purification...just drop in some purification tablets and drink from your main bottle/container while this canteen is purifying...plus it rolls/folds up small when not in use...

I'd also pack some eating utensils...i like the light my fire spork...very sturdy and light...

some other odds and ends that you might want to consider...

-small notepad and pencil
-local map(s)
-a pair or work gloves (a number or reasons)
-a lightweight/quick drying camp towel (or two)

finally, I'm a big fan of the knot-a-bag from Coughlan's...it's a small container that holds a long uncut bag...You simply pull out the bag to the desired length and tear it off...simply tie the ends in knots and you've got instant bags for any number of needs (trash, water transport, waterproofing smaller items, etc). very cheap and light...

[Rick]

You offer some good stuff, Chaz. Try wrapping the duct tape around your pencil, a Nalgene bottle of some other object. That keeps it handy and still out of the way.

Good call on the work gloves. I have a leather pair and I use them a lot. Also the camp towel. I have an Aquis Adventure towel.

My son carries a spork and he loves it. I carry a GI knife, fork and spoon just because they are rugged.

You need to think about a couple of items for repairs. I carry Seam Grip and Freesole. There isn't much you can't fix with Seam Grip, Freesole, Duct tape and paracord. Waterproof material, boots and all!

One of the other forum members put me on to something called EZ Towels. I have them in all my packs. They are light weight, reusable and really handy.

http://www.eztowel.com/

A trowel for cat holes and fire pits.

I carry a Gerber backpacking saw. Some of the other members have folders. Darned handy. Lightweight, sturdy and cuts well.

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Bandanas - Another multi use item.

[danmc]

I don't carry duct tape but I do often times carry a roll of athletic tape. It can be used for construction, repairs to your stuff, and repairs to yourself.

[Gray Wolf]

Thanks davef! 4 minutes in windy conditions is pretty good.